GMA allays fears of muzzling press

Proclamation No. 1017 actually upheld freedom of the press, President Arroyo said yesterday to dispel views that her declaration of a state of national emergency last month stifled the media.

Mrs. Arroyo also expressed confidence that the business sector remains bullish about the country’s economy as the administration managed to quell coup and destabilization attempts.

"That’s why we have to work very hard on political stability and to really not allow these destabilizers to see the light of day," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said she was far from imposing martial law and only took swift and decisive action to ensure the people’s security and safety from a "clear and present danger" facing the country.

"And when the clear and present danger was removed, I acted just as swiftly," she said. "And did you see any travel ban, did they see any curfew?"

During an exclusive interview with STAR columnist Babe Romualdez, Mrs. Arroyo refused to specifically talk about the police raid on the newspaper, The Daily Tribune.

"The specifics of that are being sorted out, but let me just say that I am a believer in democracy, which includes the freedom of the press," she said.

"And whatever I did during that period, I acted in the interest of our democratic freedoms. And whatever I did, I was able to arrest the plot.

"Surely if they had succeeded we wouldn’t even be talking about that newspaper alone. Other newspapers would probably have closed down by now, and all other media outlets.

"So I believe that I acted in the interest even of freedom of the press," the President said.

She said her administration would continue to be alert "to the evil designs of those who seek to destroy our democratic way of life and overthrow a duly-constituted government."

Mrs. Arroyo said her actions were appreciated by the business community, whose main concern was the country’s security.

"The day (March 3) that I lifted the state of emergency, they came to Malacañang and they were supposed to have their regular consultation with (Finance Secretary Margarito) Gary Teves and they came in very, very large numbers that evening, and I was very gratified to have a chat with them and I was very encouraged with our discussions moving forward," she said. — Aurea Calica